Cultural diversity
Ancestry
About this topic
Ancestry describes a person's cultural association and ethnic background, and Census respondents can report more than one ancestry. It is a broader cultural measure than country of birth because it can reflect family heritage across generations.
This topic helps show the size and diversity of cultural groups in an area, including groups whose members were born in Australia. Because multiple ancestries can be reported, ancestry totals can exceed the total population, so it is best read with birthplace, language used at home, and religion.
Interpretation notes
- People can report up to two ancestries, so category totals represent responses rather than a single unduplicated person count.
- ABS advises that ancestry is best used with birthplace and language, because ancestry alone is a broad measure of ethnicity and cultural background.
- The 2021 form added separate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mark boxes, so those categories need caution in over-time comparison.
Key insight
In 2021, the largest ancestry groups among residents in Hobart (C) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Hobart (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Hobart (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Hobart and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Hobart (C), with comparison markers for Greater Hobart.
English
2021 count
21,640
% of total
39.3%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
21,640
39.3%
-1.9pp
Australian
2021 count
17,045
% of total
30.9%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
17,045
30.9%
-2.4pp
Irish
2021 count
6,549
% of total
11.9%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
6,549
11.9%
-1.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
6,129
% of total
11.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
6,129
11.1%
-0.5pp
Chinese
2021 count
4,689
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
4,689
8.5%
+2.4pp
German
2021 count
2,264
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
2,264
4.1%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
1,437
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,437
2.6%
-0.1pp
Indian
2021 count
1,302
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
1,302
2.4%
+0.6pp
Dutch
2021 count
1,191
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,191
2.2%
+0.2pp
Nepalese
2021 count
1,011
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
1,011
1.8%
+1.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+862
-1.9pp
Australian
+272
-2.4pp
Irish
-284
-1.6pp
Scottish
+277
-0.5pp
Chinese
+1,589
+2.4pp
German
+162
-0.1pp
Italian
+95
-0.1pp
Indian
+390
+0.6pp
Dutch
+169
+0.2pp
Nepalese
+812
+1.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Hobart (C). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Hobart.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Hobart% | Count | % | Greater Hobart% | Count | pp | |
| English | 21,640 | 39.3% | 42.5% | 20,778 | 41.2% | 44.4% | +862 | -1.9pp |
| Australian | 17,045 | 30.9% | 37.6% | 16,773 | 33.3% | 40.9% | +272 | -2.4pp |
| Irish | 6,549 | 11.9% | 10.7% | 6,833 | 13.5% | 11.9% | -284 | -1.6pp |
| Scottish | 6,129 | 11.1% | 9.4% | 5,852 | 11.6% | 9.5% | +277 | -0.5pp |
| Chinese | 4,689 | 8.5% | 3.7% | 3,100 | 6.1% | 2.1% | +1,589 | +2.4pp |
| German | 2,264 | 4.1% | 3.7% | 2,102 | 4.2% | 3.8% | +162 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 1,437 | 2.6% | 1.9% | 1,342 | 2.7% | 1.8% | +95 | -0.1pp |
| Indian | 1,302 | 2.4% | 1.6% | 912 | 1.8% | 0.8% | +390 | +0.6pp |
| Dutch | 1,191 | 2.2% | 2.0% | 1,022 | 2.0% | 1.9% | +169 | +0.2pp |
| Nepalese | 1,011 | 1.8% | 1.8% | 199 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +812 | +1.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).